Est. 2010 – "Dishonest, diversionary and pompous…"

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The Last Great Democrat

I’ve never seen anything quite like what we are going through today and I can’t seem to find anything quite like in in our history. The Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cold War…all of these had one thing in common – they hardened the American resolve to win, to be victorious in the face of overwhelming odds, to succeed where others have failed (and when those on the sidelines wish failure upon us).

Yesterday, as I lamented the sad passing of the Democratic Party, I was reminded once again of just how far we have drifted, not just the Democrats, but society as a whole. I was drawn to these excerpts from John Kennedy’s inaugural address from January 20, 1961 (3 days before my second birthday):

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God…

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.

I would wager if this was published anonymously today it would be tagged as something penned by a right wing zealot, if for no other reason due to the references to God, and not the words of the scion of a very successful family, a Democrat Party patriarch and perhaps the last truly great Democrat.

We are losing the battle for freedom and liberty against the enemy, an enemy that we freely invited in. This enemy comes in many forms – anti-religion, secular humanism, socialism, Marxism, communism, “social justice”, “income equality”, class envy, Occupy Wall Street and yes, “progressivism”. It is no coincidence that the drift toward defeat coincides with the growth of these “movements” and ideologies.

I think JFK would be appalled by the fact that the contemporary Democratic Party has embraced the very ideals that he stood against. By the political standards of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, this party would have been considered communist and not simply “liberal”. Of course, he was socially liberal but to Kennedy, welfare was a way back to productivity, not a lifestyle, not a guarantee. Kennedy’s pro-business and pro-growth, “America First” positions would never survive in the self-loathing, navel gazing and apologetic Democratic Party of today.

Can we fight back? Can we stem the tide?

We can – but we can’t by just being a little less progressive than the Democrats.

Romney and Ryan are just a waypoint on the route back.

In my opinion, the reason that America appears tired and beaten is that we have lost faith. I speak not only of faith in the religious sense but faith in America and what it has traditionally represented. History tells us that the current reductive political environment, one that began in the “anti-establishment” 1960’s, is an aberration in the long cycle of American growth and global dominance…and again, we see the easily drawn parallels between the rise of modern “progressivism” and the decline of America’s internal confidence and standing in the world. We are being eaten from the inside.

The news is full of stories of the underdog winning, the team without a prayer pulling the game out. Yesterday, the world of college football provided a perfect example illustrating this point. On Saturday, the University of Louisiana-Monroe from the SunBelt Conference lined up against SEC power and eighth ranked Arkansas on the Razorback’s home field in Little Rock. On paper, this is should not be close. Arkansas is in the top tier of arguably the premier conference in the country, the SEC having produced the last six consecutive Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national champions and has the current number one ranked team, Alabama. On paper, UL-Monroe had no chance. They were outmanned, had lesser talent and were in enemy territory to face an opponent who assumed that they were there to be overwhelmed. Arkansas likey saw this as a glorified practice game, a romp, an easy “W”.

How? They had faith. They believed. Against all odds they believed that they could win. They kept fighting, kept executing their strategy, until the game was over.

This used to be called the “American spirit”, this ability to see triumph through the miasma of defeat, to accept defeats as a simple setback in the pursuit of a greater objective, to continue to persevere in the face of great strife. We once ran toward battle, not away from it. We were confident in ourselves, we wanted to be on point – we sought leadership instead of leading from behind.

There was a time when we made our own way, when accepting charity was a sign of appreciation and accepting welfare was a sign of shame. There was a time when success was exalted and desired, not vilified and shunned. There was a time when we were taught that the sky was the limit, not that our destiny was some sort of government supplied “safety net”. We were taught that everyone had a chance to succeed, not that parts of society simply could not and we must prepare to care for them for life.

There was a time when we refused to accept what others thought of us and looked to ourselves for our national self- esteem, not to the solons of Europe and the United Nations.

We are tired.

But like little UL- Monroe, we are far from finished.

We must restore faith in America and remember our faith in God. “Progressivism”, human secularism and the combined forces of all things communist must be defeated, for they are incompatible with the traditions of this country. This is an oath we must swear.

In the words of perhaps the last great Democrat, John Fitzgerald Kennedy:

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

12 thoughts on “The Last Great Democrat”

Just for fun, I checked out your horrorscope on the Wikipedia. I think you’ll like it…. ::giggles::

Aquarius is sometimes identified with Ganymede, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology with whom Zeus fell in love and, in the disguise of an eagle (represented by the constellation Aquila), carried off to Olympus to be “cup-carrier” to the gods. Aquarius has also been identified as the pourer of the waters that flooded the Earth in the ancient Greek version of the Great Flood myth. As such, the constellation Eridanus the river is sometimes identified as a river being poured by Aquarius.

In mythology Cancer is often associated with the Greek myth of the Lernaean Hydra, one of The Twelve Labours of Herakles and the mythical figure of Perseus, from the Greek myth of Medusa. Cancer is also associated with the Greco-Roman goddess Selene/Luna and sometimes the goddesses Artemis/Diana and Hecate/Trivia.

Look here, Mr. Smiley, I should like to know when you were born. (I am now through with a 3-hour rehearsal and am more than willing to play with big boys (some adolescent boys tried to pick me up in the parking lot) I should’ve taken them for a ride….. That reminds me! I need glasses! These next rehearsals are when it’s dark and I have trouble without my four eyes. Oh, and my poor hand is awfully swollen due to that bi*ch hamster that bit it. What the hello was I on about? Okay…

SBJ, I shall do this Wikipedia search for you. Also, I should like to know your thoughts on JFK.

In Greek mythology, Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during one of his twelve labours, and subsequently put into the sky.[6][4]
The Roman poet Ovid called it Herculeus Leo and Violentus Leo. Bacchi Sidus (star of Bacchus) was another of its titles, the god Bacchus always being identified with this animal. However, Manilius called it Jovis et Junonis Sidus (Star of Jupiter and Juno).
Early Hindu astronomers knew it as Asleha and as Sinha, the Tamil Simham.

I’m still trying to figure out how you got Huxley and I got Huey (well, at least the News came along with him…)

Last Great Democrat? Well we are expected to settle for mediocrity from the Democratic Party. The leader of that Party in as much said so last week. The bar was raised too high and he was unable to hit the mark so maybe we should just settle for less as a Country. After all their posturing, name calling, race baiting, and advocacy of outright thievery, the Democratic Party wants the American people to sit down and just accept the conditions in America and trust that they will make things better after being giving the “keys” to the car. Well, in the America I grew up in, the American people don’t settle for mediocrity. The last time America was asked to settle for less by the Democratic Party, Jimmy Carter was SOUNDLY rejected and America never looked back… until 4 years ago. Great Democrats….. Plaaaezzzze. Spare the insult to my intelligence thank you. :-B

Nice job, boss. Might I make a comment that — to me — seems to go hand-in-hand with your thoughts here?

Twice in our history, we have faced a threat as grave as the one we face now. First at our birth and again in the War of Northern Agression. In BOTH cases, we were saved by a great awakening: a turning back to God. I agree with you: we need to have faith in America again, but that goes hand-in-hand with our connection to God — as a nation. Yes, I know you mentioned this, but I think our friends who may not share our faith have carried the ills of today with them into their quest to make this a secular nation from its inception. It wasn’t, and the historic record proves this. The record also shows that an awakening of God’s people and their faith in His principles helped set us back on the right path again. Yet, those who pursue the secular humanist agenda not only reject this clear lesson of history, they seek to re-write it. If we refuse to accept and pursue what has been this nation’s saving grace from its birth, then we will fail. However, where we have problems keeping our promises, He never fails. If we who are called by His name will turn from our sinful and wicked ways, seek his face and repent, He WILL heal this land.

Still, I see this in your post, and I don’t believe it’s just me reading my thoughts into your words. That’s why I find great comfort in this post. If this nation will turn in the direction you are looking, we’ll make it. But if we refuse…